Week 17 – Let’s All Go To The Playoffs

Sorry for the late picks... With a strange set of games this week, the teams that need wins, are all playing teams that are eliminated,, making for the most boring January 1st I can ever remember. As much as I love the NFL, I still wish the college teams were playing on the 1st. Anyway, the strangest twist of all, is that San Diego needs to lose for Kansas City to even have anything to play for…

So the only way to possibly predict the games and understand who’s alive, is to go by the kickoff times…

Saturday-
Denver @ SD – Denver will be resting everyone since they have the 2-seed locked up. San Diego will win just to prove that they are one of the greatest teams to not make the playoffs, and then this win somehow clinches Pittsburgh also and eliminates Kansas City.
Pick: SD

NY Giants @ Oakland- Giants need a win. Oakland needs a new defense.
Pick: Giants

Sunday – 1PM
Arizona @ Indy- Indy won’t blow this one.
Pick: Indy

Baltimore @ Cleveland- I’m really torn in this game. Baltimore is terrible on the road, but I think I should stick with what I said a month ago, when I vowed not to choose Cleveland until the end of last season (except against Pittsburgh?)
Pick: Baltimore

Buffalo @ NY Jets- Jets are vying for the #1 pick, so I’m guessing they try to lose.
Pick: Buffalo

Manwich Matchup of the Week
CAR @ Atlanta- CAR must make a playoff stand, and I think this bitter divisional rivalry is the best game on tap for the week, because Cincy and KC will be meaningless by the time it happens.
Pick: CAR

Cincy @ KC- Cincy will be playing for the 3-seed, KC will just be angry, and my guess is that Cincy WANTS the 4th-seed, so they can play a very beatable Jacksonville team next week, as opposed to playing Pittsburgh.
Pick: KC

Detroit @ Pittsburgh- Pittsburgh will have already clinched, but even a clinched team can beat the hapless Lions (sorry Jon).
Pick: Pittsburgh

Miami @ New England- Unlike the other teams, I expect New England to still continue their winning ways as they continue getting into football form. Don’t worry, Miami will still be a trendy team on the rise for next season.
Pick: New England

NO @ Tampa-Tampa needs a win to get in, and the Saints need a loss to get Reggie Bush. Everybody’s a winner!
Pick: Tampa

Seattle @ Green Bay- This game has absolutely no purpose, other than making Favre realize its time to retire.
Pick: Seattle

Sunday – 4PM
Houston @ San Fran – Ah… the great Reggie Bush Bowl on New Year’s Day. I love anarchy, so I hope Houston wins for that insane 5-way tie for the #1 pick.
Pick: Houston

Tennessee @ Jacksonville- The Jags are locked in at a #5 seed and have nothing to play for. McNair is auditioning for new suitors.
Pick: Jacksonville

Upset of the Week?
Chicago @ Minnesota- Chicago’s locked in, and will be resting their players, which is why Chicago is favored. Normally, I’d be all over the Vikings, but I think Rex Grossman will still be playing as he tries to get in playoff form.
Pick: Chicago

Washington @ Philly – Washington needs a win to get in, and Andy Reid and all the doughnuts will not be able to stop the surging Redskins.
Pick: Washington

Sunday – 8PM
St. Louis @ Dallas – I’m assuming the Cowboys are already eliminated, but they’ll play hard anyways just to prove they’re a good team.
Pick: Dallas

Last week: 7-9 (oops)
Season: 152-88
Manwich Matchup: 9-7 (Picking the Chargers in Kansas City was a big mistake…)
Upset Special: 3-13 (but not as big of a mistake as picking the Browns over the Steelers)